Automotive wheel tool



Aug. 11, 1953 L. ATFLICKINGER AUTOMOTIVE WHEEL TOOL Filed June 13, 1950 INVENTOR. LLOYD A. /#6:

ATYORJVCYS.

Patented Aug. 11, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,648,126 AUTOMOTIVE WHEEL TOOL Lloyd A. Flickinger, Denver, Colo. Application J une 13, 1950, Serial No. 167,867

4 Claims.

This invention relates to automotive wheel tools and more particularly to a form of tool especially suited for the removal of grease cups from auto wheels.

Heretofore mechanics and repairmen have experienced considerable difliculty and time delay in removing auto wheel grease cups since the ordinary shop tools are not well suited for this purpose. It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide a tool of simple construction which is especially adapted for quick and easy removal of grease cups from auto wheels.

A further object is to provide a tool which is both inexpensive of manufacture and safe and durable in use.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of this invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are side elevation and top plan views, respectively, of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken along the line 4-4 on Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 on Fig. 3.

Broadly stated, my inventionconsists of a tubular body or barrel having a longitudinal slot therein and adapted to fit over the grease cup of an automobile wheel, and clamping jaws embracing such barrel adapted to compress the same whereby such grease cup may be firmly gripped and its removal readily effected.

Within the broad statement of this invention as set out above, there are, of course, various specific forms which may be provided to embody the same, these differing mainly as regards the manner of attachment of the clamping jaws to the tubular body, and the specific form of the latter. In the illustrated embodiment which will now be described, the jaw members are pivotally secured to the tubular body, the latter being formed with two diametrically opposed, longitudinally extending slots to permit flexure thereof.

Referring now to the drawing, the preferred form of my automotive tool is there illustrated comprising an elongated flexible tubular body or barrel I of circular cross-section, preferably formed by drawing sheet steel, such tubular body having an open end 2 adapted to fit loosely over the grease cup of an auto wheel. A pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending slots 3 and 4 are provided in such body running from the open end part way to the opposite closed end 5 thereof. Thus two opposed segments 6 and I are formed being capable of fiexure to grip and effect the removal of a grease cup. Formed on the inner surface of such segments of the tubular body adjacent the open end thereof are a plurality of closely spaced circumferential grooves 8 which provide a gripping surface thereon.

A pair of semicircular jaw members 9 and ill adapted to embrace the tubular body adjacent such open end are provided to apply clamping pressure thereon. Such jaw members are pivotally connected together, member 9 being bifurcated at one end to provide a recess ll adapted to receive a flattened tongue I2 formed on the correspondingend of jaw member In. A pin l3 passing through tongue l2 and legs of such bifurcated end portion effects such pivotal connection.

' Welded to respective segments 6 and 1 and disposed approximately centrally thereof adjacent the open end 2 of the tubular body are a pair of diametrically opposed, radially extending U-shaped members l4 and I5, providing respective U-shaped cavities I6 and I1 adapted to receive respective jaw members 9 and I0. Pins I8 and I9 passing through respective jaw members 9 and I0 and likewise through legs of respective U-shaped members 14 and I5 effect such pivotal connection. The opposite ends of jaw members 9 and 10 are shaped to extend radially of such tubular body to define handles 20 and M respectively, of sufficient length to provide the necessary leverage to compress the open end 2 of such tubular body into tight gripping engagement with a grease cup in order to effect removal of the latter. Handle 2| is formed with a flattened end portion 22, bent as shown, which is adapted to fit under the rim of a hub cap whereby the same will be simply and quickly removed to expose the grease cup of the wheel.

Having thus described my invention, its operation will become readily apparent. The repairman will first remove the hub cap of a wheel by means of flattened end portion 22 of handle 2| to expose the grease cup. The open end 2 of the tubular body is then placed loosely over such grease cup and sufiicient clamping pressure applied thereon by means of radially extending handles 20 and 2| to tightly grip the same.

Without releasing such gripping pressure, the tubular body is now firmly gripped and withdrawn, thus removing the grease cup from its seat. In order to replace the grease cup, the same is again gripped tightly in the open end portion of such tubular body and placed over its seat and then looked thereon by means of gentle hammering applied to the opposite closed end 5 of the tubular body.

It will'thus be seen that I have provided a device which is simple of construction yet highly effective in the performance of its intended function, viz, the quick and easy removal of grease cups from automobile wheels. Such device is equally convenient for installing 'gr'easecups.

Although I have described only 'one preferred embodiment of my tool, it is clear that other forms may be employed withoutdeparting from the principle of my invention. For example, the tubular body may be open at both ends. However,-my illustrated form is preferred since a closed end provides a convenientsurface for hammering,- whereby to effect installation of the grease cup. Also, it is possible to provide pivotal connections by a mere overlapping of 'respective members 'rather than in the manner described and illustrated. Then too, the jaws may be fixedly secured to the tube instead of pivotally connected thereto as shown.

-It-is also contemplated that-a compressible --tube maybe provided which has only one slot therein rather than two as shown and described herein. In suchconstruction, however, it would be desirable that the slot extend the'entire length of the tube rather-than -only partwayas shown, in order that the samebe notwarped or distorted by the application -ofclamping pressure thereon.

Other modes of applying the principle ofthe invention'may be employed, change being made ed to fit over the grease cup of an automobile 1 wheel,--open at one endand'havinga'pair of diametrically opposed, longitudinally extending slots extending from such open end--part way to the other end-thereof, said tubular body having formedon itsinner surface adjacent such open end' a plurality of closely spaced circumferential-grooves to provide agripping surface,

and a pair of jaWsembracing opposite sidesof said tubular body adjacent such'open endand pivotally connected thereto at diametrically .op-

posed points lying on a line normal to the median plane through such slots, said jaws being pivotally joined at one end and having their other ends extending radially of said tubular body to define handles.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a flexible tubular body adapted to fit over the grease cup of an automobile wheel, open at least at one end and having a longitudinally extending 'sIot" extending from such open endat least part-way to the other end thereof, said tubular body having formed on "its inner surface adjacent such open end a plurality of closely spaced circumferential grooves to' provide a gripping surface, and a pair of jaws embracings'aid tubular body adjacent such open end and pivotally connected thereto at points laterally of such slot, said jaws being pivotally joined at one end and having their other ends extending radially of said tubular body to define handles.

3. A device of the character-described, comprisinga U-shap'ed' body portion witheach le terminating in a laterally inturned, substanthat both may be grippedin'one hand'and forced together.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a U-shaped body portion with each leg thereof terminating in a laterally inturned, substantially semi-circular gripper portion, said gripper portions being'serrated on the inner surface thereof to provide a gripping surface, and a pair of jaws pivotally connected respectively -to-said gripper portions for pivotal movement in a plane normal to-the longitudinal axis of said a body portion; said jaws being pivotally joined at one end with their other ends extending radially of said body portion-to define handles resiliently biased in spaced relation bysaid gripper portions.

LLOYD A. F'LICKINGER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED'STATES PATENTS Number Name I Date 913,336 West'erbeck Feb. 23; 1909 1,294,552 Smith Feb. 18, 1919 I 1,517,419 Fraser 1 ..'Dec. 2, 1924 2,513,821 Schneider July .4, 1950 

